June 2017 Minor League Transactions

[Squire]

He either had to go a level above Moniak or a level below. They went a level below. Phillies placed the 48th pick in the draft at Lakewood 2 years ago. I suspect Haseley might be disappointed, however since they gave him overslot at 8 when they didn't have to his disappointment is mitigated.

[phillychuck]

This may only be temporary--they might be ramping up the level of his competition. Or they may have seen things after he signed that indicated WMPT would be a better place to start him. Easier to see him live in the NYPL than the FSL, though.

[andyb]

Agree. Think he might be back in Clearwater in a couple of weeks. We actually DO have enough Williamsport OF that should get playing time. Ortiz is a definite. Stephen should be also. Matos possibly as well. Then the others like Alastre are not nothing. Haseley is the priority but really think he'll be in Clearwater where there are few other prospects and where his polish is theoretically ready for.

[allentown]

Going to Wililamsport is the norm for college players who are serious prospects, and says nothing about the player's prospects - the draft year is the adjustment year from aluminum to wood bats (easier to jam hitters with wood bats, even though the aluminum bats are now "neutral" in terms of power). Next year he'll probably start at Lakewood, with a promotion in June if he tears it up there

That would be a very slow pace for an early first-round college draftee. Almost all college draftees start in Williamsport. Kingery started at Lakewood his first year and started at CLW his 2nd year.

[phillychuck]

Utley started in WMPT, Rolen started in the Appy league, Howard started in Batavia, etc. It's pretty standard for even first round college position players to start in a rookie league, although some don't.

I think it depends to a large extent about the player's control of the defensive position and strike-zone judgement in addition to the traditional tools. And, as I mentioned, they might just be ramping him up to pro ball gradually.

[Squire]

Referencing guys from 17 years ago doesn't seem that relevant to me. Kingery started in Lakewood. Nola started in Clearwater. Those seem like the more relevant comparisons to me.

I think it's hard to argue that Haseley's placement right now is not being determined because of the existence of Moniak. If he didn't exist or was hurt for the rest of the year does anyone really think Haseley would be at Williamsport?

[phillychuck]

I agree that Haseley probably belongs at Lakewood. The Phils have recently placed highly drafted college players in full season leagues, that's undeniably true. Haseley won't be hurt by spending a few weeks at WMPT if he jumps next year. It's going to be hard to place both Haseley and Moniak properly since it seems they both should be playing the same position at the same level. It will be interesting to see how that resolves.

[Austinfan]

Different situations.

Nola was one of the most polished college pitchers to come out this decade.

Kingery was a 2B where the offensive expectations are much lower, so they were less worried about him struggling at the plate as long as his fielding improved, which he did until this season. No one expected Kingery to ever hit like he has this year. Same reason they pushed Crawford, they figured if his fielding is good enough, they can wait for the hitting to come around at a premier defensive position.

OF are expected to hit at a high level, so they're not going to rush them because they don't want to consider promoting them to the Show until they're hitting at close to an elite level. Look for Cozens to repeat AAA ball next year because he needs to make more adjustments to make consistent contact. Williams is in his second AAA season and is finally learning how to work an AB.

[schooldoc]

Quick research....

In the 2016 draft, three of the top 10 picks were college hitters from major programs. Two, Corey Ray (5/MIL) and Zack Collins (10/CWS) started at high-A. One, Nick Senzel (2-CIN) started in low-A. Senzel tore up that league, and he's now in AA after a strong first half in the high-A FSL this year.

In the 2015 draft, four of the top 10 picks were college hitters from major programs. Top pick overall Dansby Swanson (ARI) started in short-season ball. Second overall Alex Bregman (HOU) split between low-A and high-A. Seventh overall Andrew Benintendi of BOS (sometimes a Haseley comp) started in the NY-Penn and finished in the SAL. Finally, at 9th overall Ian Happ of the Cubs started in short-season A and finished in low-A. Interestingly, all 4 of these guys are now in MLB barely two years after being drafted. Swanson is struggling a bit, but the others are holding their own or better.

What does this mean, to me? Well, I'd hope Haseley puts in a good 4-6 weeks at Williamsport and finishes up in Lakewood the last 3-4 weeks of the season. I don't see any problem with him playing alongside Moniak. One reason is, his development as a hitter will probably warrant it. Two, I don't think Haseley is the Phillies' center fielder when this team contends again. It could be Herrera, could maybe be Altherr, could be Moniak, or how about Mike Trout!!! Put Haseley in right field and let him be, if he earns a promotion to Lakewood.

[SussexJay]

....and next year the Clearwater outfield could be Randolph in left, Moniak in center, and Haseley in right!
J

[andyb]

Clearwater would be aggressive for Haseley though he is also one of the more polished college hitters to come out of the top of the first round in a while. It would not be unprecedented and the Reds could easily have done that with Senzel last year with the goal being for Haseley to be in AA by next June.

The one unique circumstance the Phillies have is Moniak and a desire to not have the two play together since ideally both should be in CF. Now they could get away with that for a month but longer would be an issue. I do think he is more advanced than Williamsport which makes me think that assignment will be temporary though a little longer than the GCL assignment which was probably more about keeping him in the Clearwater complex for a week to learn more about him.

15 games in Williamsport and then a decision on either Lakewood or Clearwater at that point seems the likely path.

[Austinfan]

People are getting too hung up on where Haseley starts his career, it's where he ends up that counts!

Hoskins started in Williamsport, struggled for a month (aluminum to wood), then started putting up .900+ OPS months and hasn't stopped for three years - if Joseph wasn't entrenched at 1B this season, Hoskins would already been in Philadelphia.

They may want to keep Haseley in CF as long as possible b/c at some point they're going to trade an OF or two, and if he shows he can handle CF he has more value (same with Moniak).
The one bright side of Quinn being injured is Williams getting to showcase his defense in CF, increasing his value as well.

[andyb]

Hazeley is a much more advanced and better prospect than Hoskins. We are not getting hung up on where Haseley goes. It is a legitimate development question on a guy that is one of our 3 or 4 best prospects that potentially can be in the majors next year like Benintendi was for the Red Sox. Benintendi did hit every level but was there for 20-40 games. That is one way. Another way is to get him to Clearwater relatively quickly. Both paths have their merit and Moniak also needs to play CF almost every day. That is our unique problem with 2 of our best 3 or 4 hitting prospects. Comparing Hazeley to lesser prospects like Hoskins is just apples and oranges.

[Squire]

OF Nick Williams promoted from Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia.

[Austinfan]

Hoskins is a lesser prospect?
I guess Howard was too!

Once a kid gets into the minors, throw away your silly scouting reports - it's what you do now, not what was projected three years ago, that matters.
Or where is D Brown these days?
Or why Crawford shouldn't be considered a top 100 prospect anymore.
Or Kingery's 40 power rating (someone tell that kid to stop hitting HRs, he's making the scouts look bad!).

If Haseley is that good, it'll take care of itself, if he starts at too low a level, he'll quickly hit his way out of there.

[andyb]

Hoskins is a lesser prospect?
I guess Howard was too!

Well yes. They were 5th round picks that were much less polished and had holes or questions about their game coming out of college. Perhaps reading comprehension is an issue? You might have a legitimate reason to suggest they should take a slower route for his development, but an offhand comparison to lesser prospects at the time they were drafted really is just a silly comparison. And BTW Hoskins is only a good prospect even now. As a guy limited to 1B he needs to hit like he has to be a good prospect. And at 24 he is not young for his level. A better prospect like Haseley has a legit path to make the majors when he was 22 (like Benintendi is now) or 23 at the latest.

[Austinfan]

The development route is dictated by the player.
That is, where you start really doesn't matter, it's how you play once you start.
Hoskins hit his way up the ladder, and would be in the Show right now if he wasn't blocked.
Whether Haseley starts at Williamsport, Lakewood or Clearwater is irrelevant, because in a year or so he'll decide where he should be playing by his performance on the field.

That's why you throw out old scouting reports once a player is in the system, who cares if he hit in college or threw 90-91 with shaky secondary pitches.
It's what a player is currently doing, and how they're progressing that matters.

Where a player starts is often dictated by opportunities for playing time.
With HS and LA players, there's also the concern that they not be overmatched and damage their confidence.
But with a polished college hitter, it's more a matter of convenience, they've already seen pitchers as good as any they'll see in the minors.

[andyb]

The last time the Phillies drafted a college hitter with a top 10 pick in the draft was Pat Burrell. Burrell is of course better than Haseley as the number one pick in the draft, but their are some similarities in polish and advanced approach.

Burrell started in Clearwater and had a 946 OPS for the year. It would not be unprecedented for Haseley to go there even if it is after a few weeks in Williamsport to ease him into pro ball. Each prospect is different but based on scouting reports there is a good chance that Haseley is the type of prospect that could handle this and be in AA next year (early in the year if not at the beginning).

Pat Burrell Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

[Squire]

Wish we had better info on Gowdy. A little frustrating (to me) that we gave this guy 3.5 million a year ago and he has thrown all of 9 innings as a pro.

[baseballoldie]

JoJo Romero to Clearwater today